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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
  4. 4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
  5. 5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
  6. 6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.
Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›
Madhya-līlā · Chapter 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
Madhya 21.134Madhya 21.136

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.135

কৃষ্ণাঙ্গ-মাধুর্য — সিন্ধু,     সুমধুর মুখ — ইন্দু,

অতি-মধু স্মিত — সুকিরণে ।

এ-তিনে লাগিল মন,     লোভে করে আস্বাদন,

শ্লোক পড়ে স্বহস্ত-চালনে ॥ ১৩৫ ॥

kṛṣṇāṅga-mādhurya — sindhu, sumadhura mukha — indu,

ati-madhu smita — sukiraṇe

e-tine lāgila mana, lobhe kare āsvādana,

śloka paḍe svahasta-cālane

Translation

“The transcendental form of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa is compared to an ocean. A particularly extraordinary vision is the moon above that ocean — Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s face — and an even more extraordinary vision is His smile, which is sweeter than sweet and is like shining beams of moonlight.” While speaking of these things with Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu began to remember one thing after another. Moving His hands in ecstasy, He recited a verse.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Smile Is Sweeter Than Sweet

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental form is compared to an ocean, and His face to an extraordinary moon above it.

  2. 2

    His smile is an even more extraordinary vision. It is sweeter than sweet and resembles shining beams of moonlight.

  3. 3

    While speaking with Sanātana Gosvāmī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu remembered one thing after another. He moved His hands in ecstasy and recited a verse.

How it feels

Awe becoming attraction. The Lord’s vast opulence is placed beside the intimate sweetness of Kṛṣṇa.

The mood of Madhya 21 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes Lord Brahmā’s interview with Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā and the Lord’s curbing the pride of Brahmā. There is also a description of one of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes with Brahmā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 21
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇa-aṅgaof the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa
  2. mādhuryaof sweetness
  3. sindhuthe ocean
  4. su-madhuravery sweet
  5. mukhaface
  6. indulike the full moon
  7. ati-madhuextraordinarily sweet
  8. smitasmiling
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do the images of ocean, moon, and moonlight help you reflect on Kṛṣṇa’s beauty?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the three images in order: Kṛṣṇa’s form as an ocean, His face as the moon, and His smile as moonlight.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Smile Is Sweeter Than SweetThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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